Staple blank or strip and method of making same



Dec. 12, 1933. H. D. RANDALL STAPLE BLANK OR STRIP AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Eiied Sept. 1, 1932 Patented Dec. 12, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STAPLE BLANK OR STRIP AND METHOD OF MAKING SAMIE poration of Ohio Application September 1, 1932. Serial No. 631,411

BClaims.

This invention relates to a method of forming a reel or stack of preformed staples suitable for feeding and stapling operations.

One object of the invention is to form a predetermined band or strip of preformed staples of such character that not only can the strip or band be nested with a plurality of similar layers or strips of preformed staples but that the staples themselves will be so formed and arranged to produce the most satisfactory binding of the staple in the material into which it is driven.

As is well known, some of the difliculties of producing a satisfactory portable stapling machine have been due to the character of the dif ferent operations causing complicated and heavy parts and one primary aim has been to reduce the weight of the machine, in order to make it suitable for handling by an operator, who is often confined to the use of one hand in awkward positions and places difllcult of access. All these requirements have made it desirable to simplify the mechanism and dispense with as many parts as possible. For that reason, among others, it has been recognized as desirable to use bands as of preformed staples, thereby dispensing with the forming devices that would otherwise be required as part of the machine. But, considerable difllculty has been encountered in applying such bands to a stapling machine for it has been so diflicult to feed a band from a stack or reel of preformed staples by reason of the interference arising from the body portion and the prongs being compactly packed together and, on the other hand, while bands of partially formed staples can be assembled in compact stacks of flat shaped members and be readily fed, still the necessity of completing the formation of the staple by the addition of means for bending the prongs from their flat position to one at right angles to the band has complicated the mechanism and increased the weight of same. 7

This invention is due in part to the discovery that in stamping the staples from a blank of predetermined length and width, the prongs can readily be given a bevel or taper on the outside surface of the prong portion and thereafter by bending the prongs to a position at an angle considerably less than at right angles to the horizontal plane of the band, the band of preformed staples will be peculiarly adapted to its intended purpose. This reduced angular relation of the prongs to the body of the staple results in the prongs flaring outwardly to a suflicient degree to permit a continuous band of preformed staples having prongs projecting at an angle approximating 75 degrees to be wound on a reel and be readily fed therefrom and, at the same time, no further forming operation is required because the outside taper given to the prong will cause the ends of the prongs of each staple to be bent inwardly by the mere act of driving the staple, thereby effecting a binding of the staple in the material due to the undercut of the prongs. It has also been found desirable in stamping the prongs from the blank to form an additional taper on each side edge of the prong in order to give the requisite point to the end of each prong.

Other objects and advantages will be in part indicated in the following description and in part rendered apparent therefrom in connection with the annexed drawing.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to apprehend the underlying features hereof that they may embody the same in the various ways contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred typical construction have been annexed as a part of this disclosure and, in such drawing, like characters of reference denote corresponding parts throughout all the views, of which:-

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming staples. Fig. 2 is a detail view of the blank showing the outside taper given to the edges of the blank. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank with the staples partially formed. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the band of preformed staples with bent prongs and Fig. 5 is a side view of one of the detached staples. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the staples in nested position along line 6-6 of Fig. 7. Fig. '7 is a side view of the staples wound in a reel. Fig. 8 is a detail of the staple after being driven into a piece of wood.

As indicated in Fig. l, the first step in the method of forming a band or strip of preformed staples is preferably to taper the edges of the blank 1 in any ordinary way to produce the outside taper 2 (Fig. 2). The series of staples can then be stamped out of this blank, as indicated in Fig. 3, and the prongs 3 are given a double 10o taper to produce the desired points 4 (Fig. 3). The prongs 3 are then bent out of the horizontal position of Fig. 3 into an angular position shown clearly in Figs. 4 and 6. It is preferable to have the prongs projected from the central portion of the band 1 at an angle approximating 75 degrees, although an angle greater than '15 degrees is permissible, provided it is less than 90 degrees. The continuous band of staples having prongs projecting as designated can then be wound into a reel as indicated in Fig. 7 or the band may be cut into strips of any desired length and the strips 'nested in the form of stacks of strips. It is apparent from Figs. 6 and 7 that the angular position of the prongs insures an improved nesting of the layers of the continuous band. If the band is cut into strips, the same advantage will reside in a stack of strips, there being a reduced frictional engagement of the layers or strips due to the lap of one strip over an adjacent one and the elevation of the body portions. In this way there is eliminated any serious tendency of the layers or strips to become bound together, which has heretofore caused such interference with the feeding of the strips as to preclude the satisfactory use of bands or strips of preformed staples in portable stapling machines.

In the use of these bands of preformed staples, the staples are finally cut from the band and may be then driven into material, such as'wood, in the usual and ordinary way. It would at first seem as though the angular projection of the prongs, as they appear in Fig. 6, would interfere with the proper stapling operation but the taper or bevel 2, on the outside face of the prong, will overcome that defect because the prongs, by the mere act of being driven.into such porous material as wood, will be forced inwardly, as appears clearly in Fig. 8, thereby causing the staple to be held securely to the wood by reason of the undercut or inward bending of theends of the prongs and in case the staple is driven against a metal surface the ends will be clinched in the desired way.

It is, therefore, apparent that there is formed an improved band or strip of staples having the desired pointed prongs of such character that the same can be wound into reel form or stacked with the minimum amount of friction and interference to insure a permissible feeding action of an improved character and, at the same time, the staples can be securely driven into wood or other fibrous material, due to the particular formation of the prongs of the staple.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various utilizations by retaining one or more of the features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of either the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should be, and are intended to be, comprehended within the; meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims:--

Having thus revealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations and elements, or equivalents thereof, by Letters Patent of the United States:--

1. An integral strip of preformed staples having their prongs bent at an angle approximating to degrees from the plane of the body portion of the staple strip to permit same to be nested, a taper or beveled portion on the outside of each prong capable of causing the ends of the p ced apart.

prongs to be bent toward one another when the .prongs are driven into any suitable material.

2. As an article of manufacture, a refill for stapling machines comprising a plurality of layers or strips of preformed staples having imperforate central body portionsand prongs bent to project at an angle materially less than degrees from said body portion and having on the outside surface thereof, tapered portions which cause theprongs to be bent toward each other when the prongs are driven into any suitable material, the said layers or slrips being nested with the prongs of one layer of staples engaging the prongs of an adjacent layer and the body portion of one strip being thereby held out of contact with the body portion of an adjacent layer.

3. As an improved article of manufacture a coil for stapling machines comprising an integral strip of connected preformed staples each having an imperforated body portion and prongs connected to the opposite sides of the body portion and being bent relative to the plane thereof at an angle materially less than 90 degrees, said strip being wound in a coil with the staples of one convolution nesting within the staples of an adjacent convolution.

4. As an improved article of manufacture, a compact stack or reel of integrally connected preformed slaples each having a body portion and prongsflaring outwardly from the body portion at an angle of less than 90 degrees, each layer of staples being nested with another layer with only the prongs of one layer engaging the prongs of the adjacent layer.

5. The method of forming, from a strip of sheet meial, a band of connected preformed staples, suitable for use in a stapling machine,'each staple having a body portion and prongs projecting therefrom, which comprises the steps of forming a bevel along the marginal portions of the sheet metal strip, punching out portions of said strip to leave a strip of connected staple blanks each having the end of its prongs beveled, bending the prong portions of said staple blanks to an angular position approximately 75 degrees to the body portion, with the beveled face of the prongs outward, whereby layers of the band may be nested, the staples, in that shape, being capable of thereafter being driven into and held securely fastened to a fibrous material.

6. The method of forming a reel or stack of strips of preformed staples comprising the steps of forming a taper on the marginal portions of a strip of metal; thereafter stamping strips of connected staple blanks from said strip of metal, said tapers then being on the prongs of the staple blanks, the staple blanks also having connected imperforated body portions; bending said prongs relative to the body portion to a position materially less than 90 degrees from said body portion; and finally nesting layers of said staples with the inner surfaces of the prongs of one staple engaging the outer surfaces of the prongs of an underlying staple and with said body portions HOWARD D. RANDALL. 

